God with his own, no fear in the village
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
समागमें असे हरि नेणतियां । नेदी जाऊं वांयां अंकितांसि ॥1॥
अंकितां सावध केलें नारायणें । गोपाळ गोधनें सकिळकां ॥2॥
सकळही जन आले गोकुळासि । आनंद मानसीं सकळांच्या ॥3॥
सकळांचा केला अंगीकार देवें । न कळतां भावें वांचवी त्यां ॥4॥
त्यां जाला निर्धार हरि आह्मांपासीं । निवांत मानसीं निर्भर तीं ॥5॥
निर्भर हे जन गोकुळींचे लोक । केले सकिळक नारायणें ॥6॥
नारायण भय येऊं नेदी गांवा । तुका ह्मणे नांवा अनुसरे त्या ॥7॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Hari is with the unknowing, in their very company. He does not let His own ones come to grief. Narayana awakened them: the cowherds, the cattle, everyone. All the people returned to Gokul. Joy filled every heart. God embraced every one of them, saving them by their devotion even when they did not understand it. Now they were certain: Hari is with us. Their minds rested in perfect peace. The people of Gokul were made whole by Narayana. Says Tuka, Narayana does not let fear enter the village. He comes to all who call upon His Name.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Hari is with the unknowing, right there in their company. He will not let his own ones come to ruin. Narayana woke them up: the cowherds, the cattle, every one of them. All the people returned to Gokul. Joy was in every heart. God took up the cause of them all, saving them through their devotion even when they did not understand it. Now they were certain: Hari is with us. Their minds rested, calm and full. The people of Gokul, all of them, were made whole by Narayana. Tuka says: Narayana lets no fear come into the village; he comes to all who turn to his Name.
What it means
This abhanga states the protective heart of the Govardhan story. God stays beside even those who do not yet understand who he is, and he will not let his own people be destroyed. The villagers, saved without fully grasping how, come away with one settled conviction: Hari is with us, and so their minds rest. Tukaram makes the closing promise general: God keeps fear out of the village, and he comes to anyone who turns to him by his Name.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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